Course director: Prof Terry O'Connor
The MSc in Zooarchaeology is one of the most distinctive post-graduate courses offered by the Department and lies at the heart of its research initiatives. The course provides in-depth study of the practical and theoretical study of animal remains from archaeological deposits, building on York's international research reputation in this area. We humans are quite exceptional in the many ways that we interact with other species, and any consideration of the human past is incomplete without considering the animals that played an essential role in economic and symbolic activities. The course is intended for graduates from a wide range of backgrounds, including those with a first degree in Archaeology or Anthropology, but also graduates in, for example, Geology or Biology who wish to extend their postgraduate learning.
- Terry O'Connor: has worked in zooarchaeology for about 30 years, principally working in the historic period in UK and northern Europe. He continues to undertake practice-led research to enhance our interpretation of ancient bones, especially in understanding the formation of bone assemblages. Recent work has included investigations of Late Upper Palaeolithic assemblages from northern England, and ongoing research into the behavioural co-evolution of people and the animals that live around our settlements.
- Matthew Collins: heads BioArch, the Department's innovative research collaboration with Biology and Chemistry that is taking biomolecular analysis of archaeological materials into new areas. Matthew is internationally renowned for his expertise on ancient proteins, especially collagen, the main structural protein of bone
- Oliver Craig: joined the Department in autumn 2007, and specialises in biomolecular and isotopic methods of investigating ancient diet and other uses of resources
- Geoff Bailey: is a world-renowned prehistorian with a particular research focus on prehistoric economies. His research has taken him around the globe, most recently to the submerged coastlines of the Red Sea.
The majority of the course is delivered by Terry O'Connor, with elements contributed by other staff and, where appropriate to their expertise, by research postgraduates who are engaged in zooarchaeology research.
Signature modules provide the essential core of the subject, emphasising a firm grounding in comparative skeletal anatomy and the study of assemblage formation. Supplementary modules in, for example, prehistory, bioarchaeology or medieval archaeology can be chosen to broaden the programme of study to fit the needs and aspirations of individual students. Much of the course is delivered in small-group seminars, supported by practical classes, giving each student the opportunity to develop within a supportive and friendly environment.
The City of York is renowned for its rich archaeology. The Department has a long history of Collaborative research and teaching in zooarchaeology with the York Archaeological Trust, and we undertake projects with museums and other collection curators throughout the region. And, lest we forget, the environs of Kings Manor and the Museum Gardens have many squirrels and pigeons to remind us of the important place that animals play in human lives.
Last updated by TPOC; June 2007
